Center for Hope provides the leading anorexia treatment in an intimate setting ideal for healing and recovery for men, women, and adolescents.

Understanding Anorexia

Learn about anorexia

Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental health condition that involves restricting food, which ultimately leads to significant weight loss. This desire to abstain from food is rooted in the fear and anxiety over gaining weight or the perception of becoming fat. Those with this mental illness will often go to extreme measures to prevent weight gain, even if it comes at the cost of one’s health. The use of laxatives, diuretics, and/or enemas are common in those with anorexia, as is the execution of ritualistic behaviors when it comes to preparing food or eating. Excessive exercising is also another way in which people with anorexia attempt to drastically decrease their weight. These pervasive feelings of fear and anxiety, coupled with harmful behaviors, are known to cause a number of detrimental mental and physical health risks that could lead to death if treatment is not sought and implemented.

There are two types of anorexia nervosa that can be diagnosed in a person. The restricting type, the most well-known form of anorexia, involves dieting, fasting, and excessive exercising. The other type of anorexia, known as the binge-eating/purging type, involves episodes of overeating followed by self-induced vomiting to eradicate food from the body. Both of these types include invasive, distorted perceptions of one’s appearance and body image. Often times, those with this disorder see food as dangerous, and any encouragement from others to eat is seen as threatening and counterproductive to the goal of achieving the lowest weight possible. Luckily, treatment is available for those suffering from this mental health condition. By integrating effective therapeutic interventions and treatment methods, individuals with anorexia nervosa can learn how to live healthy lives, free from the crippling effects of this serious disorder.

Statistics

Anorexia statistics

It is estimated that 24 million people suffer from eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa. Among adolescents, the third most common chronic illness diagnosed is anorexia nervosa, with the average age of sufferers being between 12 and 26 years old. Rates of anorexia nervosa among females, on the whole, is said to be nearly .05%. With regards to males who are anorexic, it is believed that 10% to 15% of those diagnosed with anorexia nervosa are male. However, this mental health condition is less common in males, and rates of anorexia nervosa are often unreported by male sufferers. Lastly, this disorder has a high mortality rate and can increase a person’s chances of developing self-harming behaviors, suicidal ideations, and attempting at suicide at some point. The reported suicide rate among those with anorexia accounts for 12 of every 100,000 suicides per year.

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes and risk factors for anorexia

Eating disorder experts agree that a number of contributing factors lead to the development of anorexia nervosa. When trying to understand why and how someone develops this type of disordered eating, one must consider the following explanations:

Genetic: Individuals with a first-degree relative with disordered eating, an eating disorder, depressive disorder, or bipolar disorder are believed to have an increased risk of eventually displaying signs and symptoms associated with anorexia nervosa. Because of this link, it can be concluded that anorexia can be caused, in part, by a person’s genetic history. Additionally, studies have found that prevalence of this mental health condition is higher among identical twins when compared to rates of anorexia among fraternal twins.

Environmental: Experts believe that environments or cultures that place a strong emphasis on the importance of thinness can increase the likelihood of an individual developing anorexia nervosa. Additionally, certain occupations, such as those in the fashion industry or professional sports, render a greater susceptibility to anorexia due to the focus on physical appearance. Furthermore, individuals exposed to chronic stress, trauma, abuse, and/or neglect are said to be at risk for this disorder, as the restriction of food can be used as a means of controlling that which cannot be controlled (e.g. difficult or overwhelming emotions and/or physical pain caused by others). Lastly, for children and adolescents, being teased about weight can lead an individual to develop disordered eating as a means of losing weight to avoid bullying.

Risk Factors:

Being female

Family history of eating disorders or other mental illnesses

Preexisting mental illness or illnesses

Being in an environment or part of a culture that strongly values thinness

Exposure to chronic stress / trauma / abuse/ neglect

Being the victim of bullying

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of anorexia

The signs and symptoms that indicate a person is suffering from anorexia nervosa can vary depending on the length of time an individual has been preoccupied with the thoughts and engaging in the behaviors associated with this mental health condition. If you are concerned that your friend or loved one is struggling with this debilitating disorder, note the presence of any of the following symptoms:

Effects of anorexia

Without treatment for anorexia nervosa, there are a number of devastating effects that can occur if the behaviors associated with this illness persist. With the gravest consequence being death, the following are examples of what can happen when treatment for this detrimental disorder is not implemented:

Inability to attend school or work

Inability to adhere to responsibilities or roles

Social withdrawal or isolation

Infertility

Loss of muscle mass / weakened muscles

Osteoporosis

Kidney failure

Digestive system damage

Damage to vital organs

Heart attack / failure

Substance use, abuse, or addiction

Suicidal ideation

Self-harm

Suicide attempts

Co-Occurring Disorders

Anorexia and co-occurring disorders

There are a number of other mental health conditions that can occur alongside anorexia nervosa. Sometimes occurring prior to the onset of anorexia symptoms, the following mental disorders can be diagnosed in conjunction with anorexia nervosa:

Center for Hope of the Sierras provides personalized treatment for adolescents and adults who are suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and other eating disorders. Center for Hope also treats individuals whose eating disorders are accompanied by certain co-occurring disorders, including addiction, depression, and bipolar disorder.